Table of contents for 49 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

“You never know when we’ll pop up next” Yes, its that funny time of year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, when you never know when an Inside Soap is going to pop up on sale – so if you found this one on Saturday, congratulations! The next issue is due in the shops on Thursday, so I guess we’d better get a shift on and make it! Our magazine, and the soaps themselves, have an inescapable momentum at this time of year, as everything builds towards, well… “the best Christmas Walford’s ever ’ad” –and storylines put in place over a year ago reach their climax. (Or perhaps anticlimax, depending on what you’re hoping for!) This issue, you’ll find Corrie’s Tyrone and Fiz pulled back together; tension for the…

SHE MEANS BUSINESS! The Foxcacher, the Kimfluencer – Kim may have had more businesses than Phil’s had hot dinners, but she puts her all into each and every one. And unlike Phil, her endeavours have all been legit! SHE’S GOT HEART Phil may be all about family, but his kids are ignoring him more often than not! Meanwhile, Kim’s been forced to raise her kids single handily, and young Pearl and Mica clearly adore her. SHE’S A SURVIVOR She’s been cheated on, had her home and business burned down, and now been faced with the grim reality of her husband’s murder. But Kim’s got through it all with her head held high – in fact, Phil could learn a lesson or two from our Kimberley!…

The ED could be set to receive a welcome shot in the arm with the return of Connie Beauchamp – or perhaps the no-nonsense consultant is heading for her old stomping ground up on the wards of Holby? Actress Amanda Mealing teased followers on Twitter recently when asked if Connie was due a comeback, joking that her alter ego could have taken down villain Tina in a flash! However, Amanda’s comments came just as Rosie Marcel, who plays Jac in Holby, revealed to Inside Soap that previous characters are returning to Casualty’s sister show when it ends in March. Surely Connie will return to say goodbye? We’d bet money on it.…

Damon is left wondering whether to end his romance with Liberty this week, as his gambling addiction continues – but will the pair really break up? Liberty worries about Damon when she sees him spending lots of time and money decorating the Love Boat. And she starts to wonder whether he’s becoming too fixated on his gambling app… “There’s a chance Damon could be obsessing over his new pastime,” agrees our Hollyoaks sneak. “But he’s in need of a distraction after the tragic death of his best friend, Brody, which is still fresh in his mind. However, Damon’s spending more and more time gambling, which is worrying for Liberty – she cares about him.” After a night out with Scott, Damon finds himself confronted by Sienna. She wants to know…

Stacey and Eve find themselves in hot water again this week, when they inadvertently cause dramas for Mila and Kioni. The sham married duo do more harm than good when they give wide-eyed Kioni some horror stories from their years in prison. She’s appalled as the two ex-cons give her chapter and verse about their awful experiences inside, and what it did to them. They think they’re doing poor Kioni a favour by being open and honest about life in the slammer, but when furious Mila finds them, she goes mad. She tells the remorseful pair that, thanks to them, her little sister is in bits about what their mother might be going through now she’s been jailed. Eve is quick to apologise and swears that they thought it would…

FAIR CITY Lucy has a dark warning for Cleo this week – she’ll make things much worse for the Collins’ if she says a word to Dolores. What will Cleo do? Meanwhile, Cian sabotages Dearbhla on a vegan website… Plus, Cristiano is anxious at the prospect of meeting Patrick’s sister, Áine. RIVER CITY Frantic Suzie is left stunned this week, when celebrity guest Susan Boyle arrives to model for her charity calendar photo shoot. Elsewhere, Mick Mulvaney’s presence puts Bernie on edge! And Scarlett is spooked when she meets Duncan Campbell-Baxter… THE ARCHERS Hazel’s taking a stroll down memory lane in Ambridge this week, but where will it lead her? Meanwhile, Tom and Natasha need to clean up their act. Finally, one local has the chance to wreak havoc… See…

HEART ATTACK HORROR! Poor Rocky’s plans to flee Walford were scuppered this week when he collapsed with a heart attack! And despite Rocky’s shady past, it seems as if our readers are hoping he’ll stick around… Now he’s had that heart attack, I think Rocky has suffered enough and should be fully redeemed as a character. I know the ‘Tom Cotton’ secret is a good’un, but I want Brian Conley to stick around forever. Emilia, Preston Surely Sonia and the viewers can find it in their hearts to forgive him, and we can all just move on? Mitch Out of the whole Rocky and Dotty scam, the person I’m worried for the most is Kathy. She’s finally opened her heart to Rocky and he’s inevitably going to stomp all over…

When Julie Hesmondhalgh chose to leave the role of Hayley Cropper in 2014, Roy lost his soulmate – while David bid farewell to his leading lady of 16 years. We ask him: was he nervous about the future for Roy once their partnership had ended? “Working with Jules was brilliant; we had the best relationship and it was thoroughly enjoyable,” grins David. “However, Julie needed to move on, and I just thought, ‘Oh great, let’s see what happens’. And what happened was, Corrie gave Roy proper mourning time – as normally in soaps you meet your next romance in three months. “But I had time to play the enormity of what happened, which was great as they were such oddballs – she was the only person for him, and he was…

The greatest thing about working for Inside Soap is talking to the actors who bring our soap faves to life. The best interviews don’t feel like an interview at all – they’re more like a good ol’ gossip with one of your besties. Especially when it’s an old friend of the magazine like EastEnders star Tameka Empson on the phone… “I need a Mary Poppins, do you have her contact details?” laughs the actress. “I have a daughter and a son on EastEnders, and a daughter and a son at home, so I need a 24-hour nanny! Arayah [Harris-Buckle], who plays Pearl, is already stealing scenes – she’s learnt that from me. She starts ad-libbing, and then the ad-libs become actual scenes!” It’s good to hear Tameka laughing because it’s…

Tragedy unfolded in Emmerdale as Laurel and Ashley’s baby son Daniel passed away. “It hits them like a thunderstorm,” said John Middleton (Ashley). The couple will later discover Daniel wasn’t their baby, having been swapped at birth with Arthur – but Laurel will continue to mark his birthday and visit his grave as the son she lost. After Max’s affair with Stacey was exposed in EastEnders, his divorce from Tanya took a dark turn when he spiked her drink. “What he does is really low,” said Jo Joyner (Tanya). Though not as low as the six feet Tanya will put him under in a few weeks, when she and Sean Slater bury the cheating hubby alive… The big soap news was the announcement that Kate Ritchie had filmed her final…

As quiz show Lingo’s second series continues, host Adil Ray finds the right words to reveal his top telly choices… What’s been the best drama that you’ve watched recently? Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You was brilliant. I’m also a big fan of Succession, it’s a good old, classic, family drama – all the backbiting of these great characters. It reminds me of growing up watching Dallas with my family. What were your other favourite shows growing up? My mum and dad were going through a divorce, and comedy gave me so much joy. I watched everything from Yes Minister to those middle-of-the-road comedies with Windsor Davis in, like Never The Twain. And Bread – I loved watching that on a Sunday. What was the last show you binged? Curb…

SOLID GOLD Comedian Tom Davis has co-written and stars in brand-new Channel 4 comedy The Curse, coming early next year. Set in 1980s London, the crime caper follows a hapless gang of small-time crooks who end up embroiled in one of the biggest gold heists in history. DOUBLE LIFE First-look pics have been teased for BBC1’s forthcoming psychological thriller Chloe – a new six-part drama following Becky Green (The Crown’s Erin Doherty), as she assumes a new identity to infiltrate the circle of social media favourite Chloe Fairbourne after she dies suddenly. RICH PICKINGS Former Holby star Hugh Quarshie has joined the line-up for ITV drama Riches – a glossy tale of the super-wealthy Richards family – playing businessman Stephen Richards amid an all-star cast which also includes Hermione Norris,…

When the chance came to audition for Coronation Street via self-tape, Paddy had to make a massive decision. The request came the day before a big educational event, and the young actor needed to decide which path to follow… “I was asked to tape for Coronation Street, and I had an A-Level the next day!” explains Paddy. “I made the decision not to revise, but to focus on the tape instead. I didn’t hear anything for a month, so I presumed I hadn’t got it!” However, good news followed – eventually… “They called me in for a screen test with Jack P Shepherd [David], which was so exciting,” he enthuses. “A week later, I found out I’d won the role, and I also somehow managed an ‘A’ in the A-Level…

Faye’s return to the cobbles as a free woman could be short-lived – after she mows a man down in the street! Our sneaky snaps of Emma taking Tim’s daughter out for a driving lesson clearly show disaster striking when Faye ploughs into an elderly gentleman crossing the road. The troubled teen has only just been let out of prison for her attack on Adam Barlow – so could this terrifying incident result in her being slung back inside? “Faye is merely out on bail, and the strict conditions of her release could mean that she is sent to jail again if she puts a foot wrong,” grimaces our Weatherfield spy. “Meanwhile, poor Emma might find herself in hot water as the responsible adult supervising Faye while she’s behind the…

Abandon script! Writer Russell T Davies has lifted the lid on a Corrie spin-off that was once developed but scrapped by ITV. “It was about Sally and Kevin Webster winning the lottery and starting a new life down south,” he reveals. Sobering up Jenny has hit the booze in Corrie recently, yet star Sally Ann Matthews tells us that her alter ego isn’t set to become hooked. “Alcohol won’t be a problem for her,” she says. “It’s Jenny’s equivalent of turning to ice cream.” Girl about town In the new year, Home and Away will be joined by a new character named Rose. “We’ll get to know her deeply in 2022, as she uncovers secrets,” teases newcomer Kirsty Marillier, who is set to play her.…

The Platt and Barlow dynasties could be set to gain a new heir – after Sarah reveals to Adam this week that she thinks she might be pregnant! The huge grin on her husband’s face says it all as, for the first time in a long while, Sarah and Adam have something special to look forward to. Is a baby the perfect next step for the pair, as they lead the charge by adding to Weatherfield’s future generation? “When you consider the things that Adam and Sarah’s marriage has survived since the moment they exchanged vows, it’s a miracle that they are still together,” remarks our Weatherfield source. “They’ve overcome all the odds stacked against them and proven that they are rock solid. What’s more, any little bundle of joy…

There are ructions in the Barlow house this week, when furious Tracy discovers that Steve has promised the proceeds of their flat sale to Emma for her wedding! Tracy is raging that her husband would make a huge decision like that without consulting her first – and worse still, it means there will be no cash left to fund Amy’s university education! Can the couple come to a compromise to keep both girls happy? “Poor Steve is stuck right in the middle!” sympathises our Street spy. “When he promised the cash to Emma, he had no idea that Amy was planning to study for a business degree at university. But Tracy sees it as him favouring one child over the other, and forces him to ‘suggest’ to Emma that she…

We go back in time to Christmas 2020 at Holby City Hospital this week, and disaster strikes for almost everyone… While on a call with his HEMS partner, Chrissie, Iain ends up in a life-threatening situation when a van falls off a cliff! Also, Tess returns to support Charlie, who’s facing a health scare. But Charlie’s problems don’t stop there as a patient from his past heads to the hospital to see her daughter. Will Charlie recognise her before she causes trouble in the ED?…

Donna-Marie tries to inject some festive fun into the Salon de Thé this week, but Marnie has trouble getting on board with her plans… After a few failed attempts at getting Christmassy, Marnie throws herself into the idea of having carol singers in the pâtisserie – but the turnout isn’t what she’s expecting! Later on, the village experiences more festive antics from Donna-Marie. Will Marnie, aka the Hollyoaks Grinch, have a change of heart?…

With Viv blowing hot and cold, Bob takes drastic action this week. Serenading her through her locked front door when she refuses to speak to him, Bob pops the question. Viv says “yes” – but little does she know that Bob has it all arranged for the very next day! Sadly, that means Viv is denied the time to put together an especially tasteless wedding outfit and has to settle for one of her everyday tasteless ones instead. But as the ceremony approaches, it’s Bob who’s getting cold feet. He hints that this isn’t his first time at the altar, leaving us wondering if he’s hiding something. (Spoiler: it turns out he is – just the three ex-wives and the five kids!) Not at the wedding is Jack, mainly due…

“Hold on to your hats, because Emmerdale’s Christmas episodes are going to be really fabulous – they’ll blow your mind!” promises Dales star Rebecca Sarker, aka Manpreet, as we probe her about what’s in store for her character over the festive season. “Just when you think they can’t go anywhere else with this story, the writers and the brains upstairs surpass everything. It’s so much fun to play, and I can’t wait for the viewers to see it – it’s proper high drama!” While Rebecca can’t go into any specific details about what Manpreet’s Yuletide entails, we’d put money on it being to do with her serial-killer sister, Meena, who’s wreaking havoc on the village as she decides who will be her next victim. For now, Manpreet remains blissfully unaware…

We were never sure if we were supposed to feel sorry for barmaid Violet Wilson. Her  desire for a baby led to a plan with broody best mate Sean, and before they knew it, they’d conceived a little mite to co-parent. But life moves quickly in soap, and by the time the baby arrived – early and in a booth at the Rovers – Violet’s friendship with Sean had gone rather cold, as she embarked on a relationship with Jamie Baldwin. “Violet lets out a scream, and it’s more because Sean’s irritating her rather than the fact she’s having a contraction!” gasped actress Jenny Platt to Inside Soap at the time. In fact, Violet – sick of Sean’s fussing and preferring to raise the baby with Jamie – was about…

In the beginning… Bernice Marie Blackstock was born on 29 December 1968 to parents Diane and Rodney. Rodney walked out on Diane when Bernice was five years old, and the pair were estranged until after Bernice arrived in Emmerdale village, only reuniting in 2000. Being a bride… Bernice has been married four times. Her first marriage –off screen to Anthony – broke down before she reached the Dales. She wed Ashley in 2000, then Charlie off screen a few years later. She agreed to a sexless marriage with Lawrence White in 2016, until she later discovered that he was gay. Crazy in love! Bernice has done some out-there things in the name of love. She attacked Katie Sugden with a string of sausages over Andy (really!), let an internet date…

Rachel Liebermann (Amelia Bullmore) “Rachel is a devoted mother to Max and his sister Leah,” shares Amelia. “She adores Max, even though he’s up to things she doesn’t really approve of – but I think she’s fascinated and maybe even proud of his unusualness.” Mendel Liebermann (Conleth Hill) “Mendel is the head of a Jewish household who moved from London to Vienna with his family,” explains Conleth. “He loves Vienna, but is all too aware of the reputation, the family name and society’s judgement on people.” Leah Liebermann (Charlene McKenna) “Leah is Max’s older sister and she enjoys how he rubs their mamma up the wrong way,” admits Charlene. “They love each other and they’re a great family who are quite high society!” Amelia Lydgate (Lucy…

While Emmerdale bosses were no doubt hoping to keep the outcome of this week’s storylines under wraps, their plans were thwarted when star Danny Miller announced that he’s quit the soap – and has already filmed his final scenes. It was during publicity for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! that Danny let slip he’d left Emmerdale, shocking viewers… “I’ve got my baby now and I’m getting married next year, it felt like the right time to open a new chapter in my life,” admitted the star, ahead of entering the reality TV show’s Welsh castle. “I’m very emotional about it, actually. It’s been a massive part of my life and it’s taught me lots of things. But I’ve been wanting to spread my wings for a while.”…

Kim’s forced to paint on a smile and throw a hen celebration for Denise this week – even though she’s still reeling from her sister’s devastating betrayal! Having discovered that Denise knew all along about Vincent’s murder, and was paid to keep quiet by Phil Mitchell, Kim is utterly heartbroken. But when putting on a brave face at the party becomes too much for Kim, and she walks out in disgust, could this be the end of the sisters’ relationship for good? “It’s definitely on the cards!” declares Tameka Empson, who plays Kim. “Right now, Kim is feeling very alone; she doesn’t know who to trust, she doesn’t know who to turn to. If her sister can lie to her about this, what else is she lying about? It really…

Ollie finds himself in trouble with the law this week, after a protest for the Hollyoaks Christmas lights switch-on gets out of hand! With Luke’s condition worsening by the day, Ollie seeks a distraction from his dad’s illness, and helps Zara organise her protest in the village. But when Ollie suggests Becky join them, the two women quickly butt heads – creating a big problem for Ollie. Gabriel Clark, who plays the teenager, fills us in on everything that happens… Hi Gabriel! Can you tell us why Ollie is keen to get Becky involved with the protest? Ollie really likes Becky; she’s outspoken, makes him laugh, and – unlike everyone else – she treats him like an adult. Being part of the protest is a chance to impress her. I…

Guest character Lydia will look familiar to Corrie viewers, particularly those who used to follow Waterloo Road, as well as Casualty. Star Rebecca Ryan is best known for her roles as pupil Vicki MacDonald and hospital porter Gemma Dean in the school and medical dramas, and now she’s hitting Weatherfield to work alongside her real-life brother, Jack James Ryan, who has returned to the Street as troublesome Jacob. “I can’t even begin to describe how chuffed I am to be back on those cobbles,” shared Jack on social media. “There was so much unfinished business for Jacob, and I can’t wait to tie up some loose ends.” The question is: will Jack get to share a cheeky scene with his sister?”…

Kerry makes her grand return to the salon this week – but she doesn’t quite get the welcome back she was expecting… It’s been over a year since Kerry was last primping and preening the Dales locals in the beauty salon, and a lot has changed during the time she was away. But while she reckons her grand comeback is reason for great fanfare, it seems her new boss Mandy doesn’t quite feel the same! Will Kerry stick it out at the salon after such an underwhelming first day?…

There’s a classic death in Walford this week, as Saskia is the unlucky winner of a bash to the bonce from a large piece of onyx. The obsessed ex has been desperately trying to win back her “true love” Steve. Well, she at least makes sure, if nothing else, that he will be the last man in her life… It’s the opening of E20, where the punters boogie to DJ Matthew Rose. Why top Soho nightclub boss Steve chose the first curtain-haired youth he found on the market to headline his big night is anyone’s guess. Locally sourced has its place, but really. That said, what Matthew lacks in experience, he more than makes up for in volume. Handy if you don’t want anyone to hear a brutal murder taking…

Coronation Street without Roy Cropper just doesn’t bear thinking about – so you can imagine our reaction when the kindly café owner appeared to quit the cobbles in heartbreaking scenes. For David Neilson – who has played Roy since 1995 – the thought of bidding farewell to his alter ego is a strange prospect as well. So, is this really the end? The 72-year-old star – who you named your Best Actor in the Inside Soap Awards recently – discusses Roy’s departure as he reflects on two decades of love, loss, and that famous beige anorak… Hello, David! Can you cast your mind back to the year that you joined Britain’s biggest soap opera? I remember it clearly, because when I first read for Roy, I laughed! I think one…

As much as we’ve been rooting for Manpreet and Charles to finally get together, we’re rather sad that it comes at the cost of her marriage to Rishi. And it seems as though we’re not the only ones… “I was quite upset when I found out that Manpreet and Rishi were splitting up – I love them together!” Rebecca tells us. “And I love working with Bhasker [Patel, who plays Rishi] – he’s a lovely man. We have an easy relationship, and we work really well together. “But Bhasker’s determined that they’ll get back together, bless him,” she adds. “He keeps saying to me, ‘When Manpreet comes home…’ and I’m thinking, ‘I’m not sure she is coming home!’. But never say never – who knows if Manpreet will one day…

“Sometimes when we’re on set, Harvey [Virdi, who plays Misbah] will tell me off!” chuckles Hollyoaks star Omar Malik, aka Shaq, when we ask him about his relationship with his screen mum. “I do things and she’ll say, ‘What are you doing? Stop playing up!’ We have little lunch dates together and talk a lot. She really has become like family to me.” It’s lovely to hear that Omar and Harvey share such a strong bond off screen, given everything their characters are going through together on screen. Having discovered that Misbah is his birth mum, not his auntie as he’d always believed, Shaq was dealt another devastating blow when he discovered that he was the product of rape. And Omar tells us that his character is finding it all…

TELLY! The third series of BBC drama Hotel Babylon opened its doors. Following the exit of former EastEnder Tamzin Outhwaite as Rebecca, Max Beesley’s character Charlie moved up to manager. Guests that year included Bonnie Langford, John Barrowman and Walford’s Angie herself, Anita Dobson. FILM! The top movie was apparently a sci-fi blockbuster called Jumper, which starred Hayden Christensen as a man with the ability to teleport. Nope, us neither. Perhaps we thought it was a film about knitwear… HITS! Number one in the UK charts was Duffy’s earworm Mercy – which you’ll now be humming for the rest of the day! Its five-week run was brought to an end by American Boy from Estelle (feat Kanye West).…

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In a dark and enthralling drama, Samuel Adewunmi stars as Hero, a man standing in the dock accused of murder, about to tell the extraordinary story of how he risked everything to save the woman he loves. He swears he’s innocent of the crime he defends himself against – but as he fights for justice alone, will the jury believe him? “Hero is a young guy, early to mid-20s and a car salesman when we first meet him – it’s the job of his dreams,” explains Samuel. “He has his family, his mum and his sister, who he provides for as best as he can. He’s doing all right for himself but is nothing special. He’s just an average guy going through his life…” While Hero battles the odds stacked…

EMMERDALE Bar Wars! DOES AL HAVE CHAS AND MARLON RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS THEM? The Woolpack has been at the heart of Emmerdale life for decades – so to see Al trying to run it into the ground so he can turn it into luxury flats is absolutely shocking! Next week, he hammers another nail into the pub’s coffin when he sabotages the business, and Chas and Marlon are left in no doubt that Al is playing them for his own advantage. But is there anything they can do to fight back? Or is the damage already done? EASTENDERS Gray’s new ally Gray’s been at rock bottom since losing his job, and now Whitney knows the truth! But when someone offers him a surprise business proposition next week, will Gray…

BULLSEYE! The second we laid eyes on Corrie’s Millie Gibson, we knew that she had star quality – like a young Michelle Keegan type of energy. Such a bright and intuitive young actress. Meanwhile, Nina saving Kelly from potentially suffering the same fate as Seb gave us goosebumps. Nina’s conflict was pitched with perfection by star Mollie Gallagher – herself rocketing to Corrie super stardom. It’s time Cain shook up his kidnap routine. Dangle a captive from Hotten viaduct! Pit them against Moira’s prize bull! At this rate, he’ll still be tying people up in barns when he’s 72. Meanwhile, Al’s hostage situation was nothing compared with the one Meena subjected poor Billy to. Man alive! Who’d have thought this face would end up belonging to a responsible dad on…